Joshua 23:1-10

Joshua's Charge to Israel's Leaders

1 A long time afterward, when the LORD had given 1rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua 2was old and well advanced in years,
2 Joshua 3summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, "I am now old and well advanced in years.
3 And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, 4for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you.
4 Behold, 5I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west
5 The LORD your God 6will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, 7just as the LORD your God promised you.
6 Therefore, 8be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, 9turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left,
7 10that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you 11or make mention of the names of their gods 12or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them,
8 13but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day.
9 14For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, 15no man has been able to stand before you to this day.
10 16One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God 17who fights for you, just as he promised you.

Joshua 23:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 23

Joshua being old, convenes the states of Israel a little before his death, Jos 23:1,2; and in his address to them observes what God had done for them, and would do, Jos 23:3-5; and exhorts them to keep the commandments of God, and cleave to him, and not to mix with the Gentiles, and join with them in idolatrous practices, and then it would be well with them, Jos 23:6-11; but otherwise should they join with them, and depart from the Lord, who had so faithfully and punctually performed every good thing he had promised them, they might expect all evils and calamities, utter ruin and destruction, to befall them, Jos 23:12-16.

Cross References 17

  • 1. See Joshua 11:23
  • 2. Joshua 13:1
  • 3. Joshua 24:1; [Deuteronomy 31:28; 1 Chronicles 28:1]
  • 4. Joshua 10:14, 42; Exodus 14:14
  • 5. See Joshua 13:2-7
  • 6. Joshua 13:6; Exodus 23:30; Exodus 33:2; Exodus 34:11; Deuteronomy 11:23
  • 7. Numbers 33:53
  • 8. Joshua 1:7
  • 9. Joshua 1:7; Deuteronomy 5:32; Deuteronomy 28:14
  • 10. Exodus 23:33; Deuteronomy 7:2, 3
  • 11. Exodus 23:13; [Psalms 16:4]
  • 12. Jeremiah 5:7; [Zephaniah 1:5]
  • 13. Joshua 22:5; Deuteronomy 10:20; Deuteronomy 11:22; Deuteronomy 13:4
  • 14. Joshua 13:6; Exodus 23:30; Exodus 33:2; Exodus 34:11; Deuteronomy 11:23
  • 15. Joshua 1:5; Joshua 10:8; Joshua 21:44
  • 16. [Leviticus 26:8; Deuteronomy 32:30]
  • 17. ver. 3; Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 3:22
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.